THE DAKOTA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 244, 3 October 1872, Page 5

THE DAKOTA.

The steamship Dakota, we learn, sailed from New York for San Francisco, Honolulu, and Auckland on August 15. Referring to this vessel, we clip the following from the San Francisco Cr.ronide: — "As heretofore stated, the Australian line will soon be equipped with two first-class steamships — the Santiago de Cuba and the Dakota. The latter is an entirely new vessel, having made a trial trip in the Bay of New York on the 10th instant. As the new ship is soon to become so intimately associated with our commercial interests, the following brief description will be read with interest :— Her capacity is 2,400 tons. She has a condensing beam engine, cyKnder 81in. diameter, and stroke of piston 12ft., fitted with Sickles's cut-off. The steam and exhaust valves are what is known as double-pocket or balance. The air pumps are 48in. in diameter and sft. stroke. There is an ordinary jet condenser, and also a surface condenser. The waterwheels are 32ft. diameter over buckets. There are four plain cylindrical boilers, 13ft. 4in. diameter, 12ft. 3in. long for the afttr boilers, and 10ft. for the forward boilers. There are three furnaces on each boiler, making in all 12 furnaces in the four boilers. There are 250 tubes in each boiler. The engine made 12 revolutions per minute, with, 221 b. of steam, 221 a. racuum catting off at one-third of stroke ; draft 184 ft. Tne engine made eiijht revolutions with 281 b. of steam, 28m. vacuum cutting off at l-10th of stroke. (he alterations and additions to the machinery department of the Dakota consist chiefly of entirely nev boilers. Other changes, but of less importance have been made to make the machinery conform full in all particulars with well-known practice, having in view the extended service this steamer is intended to perform. Modern improvements of detail, well tried and understood, have also been introduced. The boilers of the Dakota are cylindrical, made of exra thickness of the very best Pennsylvania boiler iron, the heaviest ever before adopted in this country, and are intended to carry high steam witfy shqrt cut-off, and thus economise cgal, which is a very important item in the Pacific ser? vice, where coal is always costly. The boilers haye been tested officially, at a. hydrostatic pressure of 6*Qlb., wjugh is much higher than U3ual. The machinery 'of the Dakota is intended to be operated npon the compound principle, as far as can be, with a single cylinder, and full hopes are entertained that great speed will be obtained on a small consumption of fuel. The hull has been much improved for Pacific Ocean service in warm latitudes by the addition of narrow guards abaft tbe wheel and the extension ot light decks over the side windows, thus enabling passengers to sleep in all weathers with the windows and doors of tbeir rooms open. Additional bath-rooms, large and ample, have bten added, barber s-room, and increased ventilation in all parts of the ship."